Scarsdale Boy Organizes Footloose Shoe Drive to Benefit Souls4Souls

Westchester residents are invited to recycle their 'gently worn' shoes in an effort to help distribute shoes to people in need. The Play Group Theatre’s teenage cast of Footloose is not only dancing their feet off in rehearsal, but they are doing a different type of important legwork this winter. Beginning this weekend, with the opening of The Play Group Theatre’s, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” these young actors will use their talents to inspire the community to break out their shoes and give them to others in need.

Dylan Nossel, The Play Group Theatre (PGT) student who is organizing the shoe drive remarked, “It’s great to give to the community not just locally through our shows, but on a national scale through our shoes.” Dylan and his cast have partnered with Soles4Souls an international shoe donation program.

Soles4Souls Inc. has committed to collect and distribute shoes to people living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters. “With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous needs elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in the closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Wayne Elsey.

The shoe charity provides one pair of shoes to a person in need every 7 seconds. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 13 million pairs of shoes because of the generosity and commitment of people and organizations like The Play Group Theatre.

"Building a strong connection with the community is such an important part of PGT," says Rachael Longo, The Play Group Theatre's Director of Education. "We present free previews and performances to local charitable organizations and love to find show specific ways of giving back to the community. The Footloose Shoe Drive is a great example of the way our students are running with PGT’s Community Connection mission.”

The Play Group Theatre will be collecting new or gently worn footwear to make a tangible difference through the gift of shoes. Every shoe donation will support the Soles4Souls’ initiative to distribute shoes to those in need.

“Our show is about having the freedom to dance and to have fun,” says Footloose cast member Aviva Abusch. “We think that helping to put shoes on the feet of others may give them the freedom to do the same.”

The Play Group Theatre invites caring residents of Westchester and the surrounding areas to “Kick off your Sunday shoes….” right into one of PGT’s collection bins. To be a part of the Footloose Shoe Drive this winter, bring your shoes to any of their upcoming performances. Just make sure you have an extra pair to wear home from the show!

Footloose performs January 14 at 8pm, January 15 at 2pm, January 16 at 2pm, January 21 at 8pm and January 22 at 2pm.

For tickets or additional information about The Play Group Theatre, visit The Play Group Theatre’s website at www.playgroup.org .

People and companies interested in finding out more about Soles4Souls or donating shoes can visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org.